Burns

  What are burns?

• Injuries due to heat/ chemicals/ electricity/ radiation
  
• Common heat injuries due to fire, hot liquids, steam
  
• Burns due to heat / chemicals - through skin contact 
  
• Severe burns affect muscles, fat and bones
  
• Older people/ children - particularly vulnerable
  

• First, second and third degree 
  
• Categorization depends on severity of tissue damage 
  
• Check extent of burn before deciding self treatment
  
• Seek help if burn is over a couple of inches in diameter, or
  
• If it involves large sections of the hands, feet, face, groin or buttocks, or a major joint
  

• Injuries are superficial / mild
  
• Swelling& redness of the injured area 
  
• Pain develops
  
• No blisters seen
  
• Burned area becomes white on touch
  
• Takes 3-6 days to heal
  

• Remove patient from heat source
  
• Remove the burnt clothing
  
• Run cool water over burnt area
  
• Gently clean the injured area
  
• Gently dry 
  
• Apply anti biotic such as Silver Sulphadiazine
  
• Use a sterile bandage to cover burns
  
• Take tetanus vaccination, if required
  

• Burns extends to middle skin layer, dermis 
  
• Swelling, redness and pain observed
  
• Burnt area may turn white on touch
  
• Blisters develop, that ooze a clear fluid 
  
• Scars may develop
  
• Restricts movement, if injury occurs at joint
  
• Dehydration may occur
  
• Healing time varies, depends on extent of injury
  

• Clean the affected area thoroughly
  
• Gently dry
  
• Apply antibiotic cream over affected area
  
• Make the patient lie down
  
• Keep burnt body part at a raised level
  
• Skin graft may be required
  
• Physical therapy may be essential to aid mobility 
  
• Splints may be used to rest affected joints 
  
• Hospitalization is essential
  

• Damage occurs to all 3 skin layers
  
• Destroys adjacent hair follicles, sweat glands, nerve endings 
  
• Lack of pain due to destroyed nerves
  
• Injured area does not turn white on touch
  
• No blisters observed
  
• Swelling occurs
  
• Skin develops leathery texture 
  
• Discoloration of skin observed
  
• Scars develop 
  
• Crusty surfaces (Eschars) develop-impairs circulation 
  
• Dehydration occurs resulting in shock 
  
• Symptoms may worsen with time 
  
• Disfigurement may result 
  
• Healing depends on extent of injury 
  
• 90% body surface injury results in death 
  
• 60% injury in elderly, fatal 
  

• Requires immediate hospital care 
  
• Dehydration treated through intravenous fluid supply 
  
• Oxygen is administered 
  
• Eschars are surgically opened 
  
• Periodically run clean cool water over burns 
  
• Nutritious diet helps to heal quickly 
  
• Regular monitoring essential 
  
• Mental Depression treated by anti-depressants